College of Fine Arts - Departments

Curriculum

The Art
Department curriculum at NGU is designed to produce artists who employ a high
level of integrity and responsibility in relation to their artistic freedom.
This awareness stems from the primary acknowledgement that art is a visual
language. As such, the coursework is geared to help foster an understanding of
how to use art to express ideas spanning the critical, philosophical, or poetic
scope.

As you continue through the program, you will be guided to develop as an artist in three main areas:

Technical - Acquiring intermediate and advanced skills, especially as related to your chosen area of emphasis

Conceptual - Studying syntactical strategies and practicing your command of the curriculum to create work that serves the purpose of self-expression

Hands-On Experience

Studio space - The practice of making art requires that students have a dedicated space in which to invest the time needed to refine their skills. To this end, NGU maintains studios for the following areas: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The facilities are consistently updated with state-of-the-art technology, and they're available for extended hours at night, as well as over weekends.

Art exhibits - NGU's College of Fine Arts hosts exhibits throughout each school year, so you can enjoy work from your peers, faculty, and well-established guest artists. Your art degree culminates in creating a cohesive body of work and exhibiting it in a group art exhibition during your senior year.

Publication opportunity - The Mountain Laurel, NGU's annual literary and arts publication, gives you the opportunity to submit your work for the chance to be published. Professional artists judge all accepted submissions and can offer you helpful feedback as you continue to grow as an artist.

Set design - As an art student at NGU, you also have the opportunity to take part in NGU's theatrical productions. The Theatre Department produces at least two major productions each semester, and non-majors are welcome to volunteer their painting and/or carpentry skills in creating sets and designing costumes.

Faculty Strengths

First, and foremost, our Art Department faculty members are committed to helping students understand how to use their diverse talents to effectively communicate the love that God has for His creation.

While we do approach the classroom as a mentoring opportunity, we also see it as a unique environment where we have the privilege of interacting with other artists. The goal of our faculty is to produce thoughtful, technically proficient, and critically aware artists.

Our full-time faculty members all hold terminal degrees and also maintain a continued growth in their own personal studio work.

Ultimately, the best experience comes from the personal discovery of one's vocation, the confident nurturing of that voice, and the boundless peace that comes from glorifying the source of that calling. This is not always an easy task and it requires a heart determined to examine the Truth of one's life. At NGU, we love this process, and it is both our privilege and pleasure to be part of it.

Majors

Curriculum

The Cline School of Music at NGU offers
professional degrees in a strong liberal arts setting, with bachelorís degrees
in music education and music performance and a music worship studies program,
planned for Fall 2017. In addition, the university offers the Bachelor of Arts
in music, a general music program that has a large number of elective courses
available to give the student freedom to explore other areas of interest.

As you
continue through the program, you will find that the four components of
theoretical skills, style recognition, basic keyboard proficiency, and performance
proficiency are interrelated, working together to provide the experiences
necessary for the development of effective musicians.

Hands-On Experience

Facilities - The Hayes Fine Arts Center and Turner Chapel at NGU provide you with plenty of space to create and learn music skills. The Hayes Fine Arts Center has faculty studios, the Hamlin Recital Hall, Instrumental Rehearsal Hall, Choral Room, and Music Technology Lab. The Instrumental Rehearsal Hall and Choral Room also serve as classrooms and practice facilities. Turner Chapel has 16 practice rooms, additional classrooms, a large performance hall, and a small ensemble rehearsal room. All of these are available even after hours for you to use.

Performances - The Cline School of Music presents approximately 40 performances per academic year. These include chamber performances, student recitals, large ensemble performances, faculty and guest recitals, and student junior and senior recitals.

Composition- There are opportunities for composition with public premieres of composed works and helpful feedback as you grow as an artist.

Work study- The Cline School of Music offers you several work study opportunities that can include assisting ensemble conductors prepare for rehearsals and performances, assisting guest performers, and providing guidance for younger musicians.

Other bands - NGU has a marching band during the fall semester and a pep band during the spring semester. You may want to be in one or both and receive a scholarship for your participation.

Faculty Strengths

Each Cline School of Music faculty member holds a doctorate or terminal degree in a specialized medium of music; brings a unique set of musical experiences to the classroom; and encourages students to use their musical abilities to reflect the creativity of God.

Program Objectives

Exhibit excellence in performance according to your degree.

Employ the language of music to communicate on a professional level.

Exhibit theoretical and analytical music skills.

Exhibit fundamental keyboard skills.

Exhibit knowledge of stylistic and historical characteristics

Majors

Curriculum

The Theatre
Department at NGU offers each student a strong foundation of core theatre
courses, encompassing performance, design, technical theatre, and theatre
history. You are then given the opportunity to focus in a specialized track in
the areas of performance, musical theatre, design, or applied theatre. Within
these tracks, you will receive more in-depth and rigorous training, focusing on
the individual skills you need to develop your artistic talent. We strongly
believe in creating well-rounded artists who are able to collaborate and seek
gainful employment in many different areas of the art of theatre.

Hands-On Experience

Productions - Each year, NGU theatre students produce four mainstage productions, including one musical. All shows take center stage at our 250-seat black box
Billingsley Theatre, dedicated in 2010. Theatre students gain experience
both onstage and backstage, working as actors, designers, light and
sound board ops, prop and wardrobe masters, set construction, running
crew, and more!

Act Two - All NGU students are eligible to audition for Act Two, the
touring drama ministry troupe sponsored by Baptist Student Union. Act
Two members present an original drama to local churches and community
groups many weekends throughout the semester, and they meet regularly
for fellowship and Bible study. Members even receive a partial-tuition
scholarship.

Internships - NGU's Theatre Department requires all theatre students
to complete two internships with professional theatres, churches, or
schools to gain real-world experience and apply the skills you've
learned in class. Past NGU students have interned at The Warehouse
Theatre, Center Stage, Greenville Little Theatre, the Applied Theatre
Center of Greenville, and other theatres around the country. Interning
is a great opportunity to network and build relationships with working
professionals in the area.

KCACTF - NGU is an active participant in the Kennedy Center American
College Theater Festival (KCACTF), and the university has received
numerous faculty and student award nominations. As festival
participants, NGU students receive in-person responses to their
production work, and they are also eligible to enter the regional
competition, where they receive feedback from professional artists as
well as peers.

Musical theatre- As a music student, you
also have the opportunity to take part in NGU's musical theatre
productions. The Theatre Department normally produces two musical
theatre productions each year, and non-majors are welcome to audition
for various parts or participate in the orchestra.

National auditions - Each year, NGU students can audition for and
present design portfolios at the South Carolina Theatre Association and
the Southeastern Theatre Conference. In the past, students have earned
acting opportunities, internships, and connections to graduate schools
at these conferences. You'll also have the opportunity to attend master
classes, workshops, and performances at the largest gathering of theatre
artists in the country.

Faculty Strengths

The faculty members in the Theatre Department are all working
professionals in our field, and we all hold a terminal degree in our own
specific area of specialization. As highly dedicated teaching artists,
we desire to model for our students what integrity, commitment, and
passion look like when an artist and the artist's work are inspired by
the Creator.